Multicage elevator



5 sheets-sheet 1 `June 13, |1933. H. D. JAMES ET AL MULT I CAGE ELEVATORFiled oct. so, 195o TTO'RNEY June 13, 1933. H. D. JAMES Er AL MULTI CAGEELEVATOR Filed Oct. 50, 1930 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Ihm IN v ENTO R s Hanf/James & gug/as Gaozer WITNESSES faQ/.7% d

ATTRNEY Patented .lune 13, v1933 irsfsrarssf PATENT-lorries :HENRY n.Jaiaiisgoii1 ninsriwvoon, AND DoUGLAsefBoozER, or PITTSBURGEENN- uiviULrIcaea. iiiinviiron Appiicfim'efiiea october 3o, ieee. sei-iai No.492,205.

Our'inventionrelates to elevator systems-f in which a plurality of cagesare disposed in; one' hatchway and supportedone above the'y other inacommon carriage which moves all the cages simultaneously, and it hasparticu-- lar relation 'to multi-cage elevator systems of thetype justmentioned in'which the cages-v *are automatically and simultaneouslyinevable a way from or toward each other, in their common'ca-rriage;during movement thereof througha hatchway in order to adjust the spacingbetween the cages.

`j `The modern tall office building has presented a serious problem withrespect to speed in transporting passengers from lower to higher?levels, aswell as to uthe conservation of floor` f rspace area'necessary for the elevator hatchisa solution of these two problems7elevator systems comprising a plurality'of cages,A supported oneabove'the other in a commonV Vcarriage, have been suggested. `All thecages' in their regular stopping positions aresimulvtaneouslyaligned'with adjacent fioors. It will thus be understood that lamulti-cage elevator system having two superimposed cages reduces ythenumber of stopping positions necessary for one complete cycle of travelto one-half, and. effects they transportation of vtwice asmany people asdoesan elevator sys-A teniy having assingle cage corresponding in sizeto each ofthe cages of the inulti-cage c elevator system.

ln most oflice buildings the spacing between adjacent floors at variouslevels is not 'the saine. Tliatlis, thedistance between the first 'andsecond floors is usually Amuch greater than 'the distance between twoother floors at upper levels of the building. Grdinarily, the distancebetween two adjacent floors near the top of .the building is less thanthe distance' Vl'ietwcen two adjacent floors intermediate of 'the topand bottom of the building. vRecognizing that'for thepracticalapplicationv of a N limiti-cage elevator system to a building havingdifferent spacings between adj acent'floors at various levels; thepositions of the cagesj with' respect to each other must of necessitybeadjustable7 ithas been proposed to construct a common carriage forsupporting two cages, the lower cage being fixed with respect to thecarriage, and the upper cage being movable with "respect tothe lowerlcage and the carriage. Ithas beenpropo'se-d in an elevator ofthis t-ypeto provide a cablelsystein'and a -inotiveineans for the carriage and' alseparate cable system and'motive'meansifor'the upper cage. Further, ithasbeenpropose'd to have each of the Vinotive'means manuallyconftrollable from their respectively associated cages. y' i 'Insystemsfofthe type just described, it

is necessarytolevel one of-thecages with its stoppingfloor and theirsubsequently'inanuallypperate a control lever in the other cage to bringit to the' level of its .stopping floor. Obviously, such acontroljsystem i`s disadvantageous,'both` from the standpoint ofdepending upon the'huinan elementfto level at fleast one ofthecages,1aiid the'unne'cessary A-waste of time andconsequent'inconvenience*and delay to passengers resulting therefrom.

We propose to construct anl elevator system of the Vmulti-cage type inwhich'the spacing "between the cage is' automatically adjusted fr duringmovement thereof-through the hatch- "way' the adjusting being entirelycoi'iipleted when'the cages stop so that no `time'need bel wasted inadjustment." Furthermore,our inv-,-

ventio'n' foi effecting this automatick adjustnient of the two cages maybe utilized inconnection with elevator control systems of any type,althoughwe prefer that 'it ber employed ingconnection with anautomaticelevator inwhich' effects the levelling of the cages, not

so controlled, with vtheir stoppingifloors.

"It is,"`the'refore7 an object of our `invention to automatically adjustthe spacing between the superposedzcages ofa multi-'cageelevator systemduring movement thereof. Y f` N It is another'object of ourv inventionto CII movably support two or more cages in a common carriage, one cagecounterbalancing another, whereby mov-ement of the cages relative to thecarriage is effected simultaneously.

It is another object of` our invention to so construct the supportingcarriage for a plurality of cages that the weight thereof is reducedwithout impairment in the strength thereof, and still permit the top ofone cage to closely approach the bottom of another by the telescoping ofthe top of a cage through the frame comprising a support connecting themid portions of the stiles of the supporting carriage.

It is another object of our invention to movably support a plurality ofcages in a common carriage whereby a motive means for ad'ustinv the sacin' between the cao'es i t: D D

may be disposed on the carriage.

It is a further object of our invention to provide a control system forthe cage-adjusting motive means for automatically effecting theoperation thereof. Y l

It is a stillfurther object of our invention to provide a control systemfor the cageadjusting motive Ymeans which comprises a selector switchmovable in accordance with the movement of one of the cages.

Other objects of our invention will be readily understandable from thesubsequent description of our invention and the attached drawings;wherein Figur-e 1 is a diagrammatic view, in elevation, of the crosssection of a building having a different spacing between adjacent floorsof successive groups thereof and an elevator of the type describedherein employed therewith;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged view, in front elevation, with parts broken away,of a preferred construction of an elevator carriage showing twosuperposed cages in their closest positions together and screw means'formovably supporting them with one cage counterbalancing another', wherebymovement of both cages relative to the carriage is effectedsimultaneously Fig. 3 is a view, in end elevation, corresponding to thestructure shown in Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a view taken on lino lV-V of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a diagram of the selector switch and associated control systemfor effecting the automatic adjustment of the spacing between thesuperposed cages; y

Fig. 6 is a modification of Fig. 2 and shows a flexible member, such asa cable or chain, connecting the two superposed cages to effect thecounterbalanced support in a carriage, of one by another;

Fig. 7 is a further modification of Fig. 2 and illustrates an elevatorcarriage having an upper cage fixed with respect thereto, and a Alowercage movable with respect tothe upper cage andthe supporting carriage;and

Fig. 8 is a modification of Fig. 1 and illustrates a building having adifferent combination of spacing between successive floors and themethod of utilizing our invention for use with the ramps at the lowerterminal.

For the purpose of illustrating the method of adapting the multi-cageelevator system to a building, we have shown diagrammatically in Fig.V 1a View, in elevation, of the crosssection of a building 20, having aplurality of superposed floors numbered 1 to 13, upwardly from thebottom floor. Floors l and 2 are a maximum distance MA apart, adjacentfloors from floors 2 to 6 are a medium distance ME apart, and adjacentfloors from floors 6 to 13 are a minimum distance M apart. i

An elevator hatchway 22 extends from the bottom to the top of thebuilding, past all of the floors, and also extends below floor 1 a shortdistance to constitute a well 23 for providing the necessary space forelevator operating equipment, such as safety stop bumpers. Y

A rectangular cage frame or carriage 24, in which an upper cage 25 and alower cage 26 are movably supported in superposed relation, as will behereinafter described,is adapted for movement up and down in thehatchway 22 by guide rail shoes 37'attached at the four corners thereof,the shoes being suitably disposed to engage guide rails 37 supported onthe walls of the hatchway 22.

rEhe carriage 2-/1 comprises a pair of spaced apart upright channelmembers or stiles 27 rigidly connected together at the top by thechannel members 28 and at the bottom by the channel members 29.

A horizontally disposed members 16 connected at their ends by thetransversely disposed channel members 17 which enclose an area smallerthan the horizontal cross-sectional area of the lower portion of thecages is provided for imparting rigidity and mechanical strength to thecarriage 24, as well as to permit a reduction in the size and weight ofthe vertically disposed stiles 27 of the carriage.

rlhe upper portion or head room of the lower cage 26 is offset from andhas a smaller horizontal cross-sectional area than the lower bers 17are. cut away at points midway between the end-s of the channel membersto constitute a dovetail joint whereby the rec- Y rectangular :fi-ainecomprising a pair of structural channel tangular frame is suitablylitted and attached to the Stiles 27, as by welding.

A plurality of struts or cables 19 are p-rovided for the purpose ofaiding in maintaining the rigid perpendicular relation between therectangular frame and the Stiles 27. The

cables are suitably attached to the four corners of the rectangularframe and extend upwardly and downwardly to the upperand lower ends ofthe stiles 27 to which they are attached by any suitable means.

lt will thus be seen that, by means of the constriuftion of the carriagejust described, a

maximum rigidity and strength, as well as a minimum weight thereof, isobtained while at the same time the cages are not prevented fromapproaching each other very closely.

Projecting outwardly from the ends of the bottom channel members 29 arethe gripping S members 38 of a safety brake of any suitable type.

Supporting cables 24 for the carriage 24 are attached to the centralportion of -the upper channels 28 and extend upwardly through thevhatchway 22 and around the drumor sheaves of the elevator motor (notshown) to a suitable counterweight 15, for moving the carriage 24 up anddown in the hatchway.

The upper cage 25 and the lower cage 26 are provided with suitable doors18 and are disposed within the carriage 24 Iin counterbalanced relationto each other.

The cage 25 is attached to a rectangular frame comprising uprightchannel members 31 on each side thereof, rigidly connected 'together attheir tops by channel members 32 and at their bottoms by channel members33.

sov

Struts 27 extending at an angle to the vertical, outwardly from the topsof the upright channel. members 31 to the corners of the cage 25, areprovided for maintaining a` rigid connection and relation of the cage 25.and the frame tofwhich it is attached.

members 34 disposed on either side ,thereof and connected together atthe top by channel members 35 and at the bottom by channel Vmembers 36and having struts 27 for serving a purpose corresponding to that ofstruts 27. The cages 25 and 26 are moved up or down in the carriage 24simultaneously either toward or away from each other by a drivemechanism comprising a motor 40 and an associated counterbalancing screwandv gear mechanism.

The motor 40 is suitably supported at the bottom of the carriage on abracket arm 30 G3 attached to the lower channel members 29.

The screw and gear mechanism comprises a pair of rods 41, disposed oneon each side of the cages 25 and 26, closely adjacent and parallel tothe Stiles 27, and extending from 95 the top to the bottomy of thecarriage 24.

The lower cage 26 is also attached to a rec-y tangular frame whichcomprises channel vrelatio-n to the channel members 29.

Suitable double4 thrust bearing members 42, attached to the channelmembers 28 and 29, are provided for rotatably mounting the rods 41 onthe carriage 24.

Other suitable bearing membersV 42 for engaging the smooth surface ofthe rods 41 and supporting them further to prevent their lateraldisplacement are provided at suitable intervals between the bearings 42at opposite ends ofthe rods 41.

-The lower portion of the upper half of each of the rods 41 is threadedin one direction4 and the lower portion of the lower half is threaded inan opposite direction. F or example, the upper thread may be a righthandone and the lower thread may be a lefthand one or vice versa. rlhelength of the threading is slightly more than the distance which eachcage moves relatively to the carriage 24.

The upper cage 25 is supported and guided by the upper half of the rods41, and the lower cage 26 is supported and guided by the lower half ofthe rods 41.

Split-nut bearing members 39, attached to the bottom ends of the channelmembers 31 and 34 of the cages 25 and 26, respectively, engage thethreaded portions of the rods 41. The split-nut construction of bearings39 permits adjustment thereof on the rods 41, as well as a simple methodof assembly of the cages in the carriage. The nuts 39 are screw threadedto cooperate with the threaded portions of the rods, so thatsimultaneous rotation of the rods 4l at the same speeds and in properdirections will effect a movement of the cages 25 and 261with respect tothe carriage 24. Furthermore, by reason of the fact that the upper andlower threaded portions are opposite, the two cages simultaneously moveaway other.

Sliding guide or bearing members 39 for engaging the smooth surface ofthe rods 41 are suitably attached to the upper ends of each of the cagechannel members 31 and 34, respectively. They provide a mea-nsadditional to the split-nut bearings 39 for guiding the cages 25 and 26for movement along the rods with respect to the carriage 24.

In order that the motor 40 may effect the simultaneous rotation of therods 41 to move the cages with respect to the carriage, its armatureshaft 48 has mounted upon it a sprocket wheel 47 that is connected by achain 45 to a sprocket wheel 46which is keyed to a shaft 44. The shaft44 is rotatably supported in a pair of bearings 44 mounted on thechannel members 29 and extends from one stile 27 to the opposite stilein parallel A beveled gear wheel 43 is keyed to one end of the shaft 44and another gear wheel 43 is keyed from or toward each to the oppositeend in positions to engage respectively a cooperating gear wheel 43keyed to the lower end of one of the rods 4l and a gear wheel 43 keyedto the lower end of the other rod 41 so that rotation of the shaft 44 bythe motor 40, through the chain 45 and the sprocket wheels 46 and 47will effect simultaneous rotation of the rods 41 at the same speeds.

Thus, it will be understood that the rota Ation of the motor 40 in onedirection effects 10" the movement of the two cages away from il" rods4l in a direction which effects a lifting of the lower cage. The pitchof the threads on the rods 4l obviously determines the coinponent of theweight of the upper cage effective to cause rotation of the rods 4l.Similarly, the weight of the lower cage acting downwardly tends to raisethe upper cage.

Assuming cages of equal weight, clearly a motor of su'liicient power toovercome the unbalance of load in the two cages and the yfrictionalforces is all that is required. Thus, one of the ad antages ofcounterbalancing one cage by the other is that a motor of comparativelysmall dimensions and power may be used. resulting in a minimum. cost aswell as a minimum weight of the carriage 24.

Another advantage resultingfrom the counterbalancing of one cage byanother is that a. motor of standard construction may be ,employed foreffecting their adjustment in the carriage. lt should be obvious thatwere a separate motor employed to move each cage individually, by meansof a screw mechanism similar to that described herein comprising j `thethreaded rods 4l, without counterbalancm i ing' the cages in somemanner, the power neces sary to lift a cage would be more than that tolower it because in lifting a cage power necessary to oif'erconie theweight of the cage would have to be provided and in lowering a cage thisi power is not only not required but the weight balanced system, thepower required to move them is cons yant and does not vary whether thecages are moving up or down. Thus, a motor of special design or havingcompensating features is not necessary and since a motor of standardconstruction may be employed the cost of the elevator system is keptdown to a minimum with respect to this item.

Referring to Fig. l, it will be seen that the upper and the lower cagesare spaced apart a maximum distance MA when they are at the level offloors 2 and l, respectively. It will also be seen that the distancebetween the upper and the lower cages, when they are at a level,respectively, with floors 4 and 3 is less than the distance MA and thatthis distance is ME. lt will be observed further that for anotherstopping position in which the upper and the lower cages are at thelevel, respectively, of floors 8 and 7, the distance between the cagesis further decreased and is the distance Ml.

lt will thus be obvious that, by reason of the diminution in the spacingbetween successive up floors in the building, the cages must be adjustedfrom a maximum distance apart to a minimum distance apart in ascendingfrom the bottom to the top of the building. It will be obvious also thatin descending` from the top to the bottom of the building` the cagesnuist move from a minimum distance to a maximum distance apart inaccordance with thespacing of the floors at the Various stoppingpositions.

Therefore, we have provided a means for effecting the automaticadjustment of the spacing between the cages during the movement of thecarriage 24 between successive stops whereby the cages are properlyspaced in accordance with the requirement of the spacing between theadjacent floors at which they respectively stop before their arrivalthereat.

The means which we have provided for effecting this change of spacingbetween the cages comprises a control system for the cage adjustingmotor 40. This control system is entirely separate from the controlsystem for the hoisting motor (not shown) which moves the carriage 24 upand down in the hatchway, and is applicable to any of the elevatorcontrol systems known and in use today.

lt should be understood that, since we provide an automatic means foradjusting the spacing` between the cages of a multi-cage elevatorsystem, an ordinary control system may be employed and applied to one ofthe cages only. It should further be understood that controlpush-buttons may be located in each of the ca for operation to registeror effect stops desired.

Tt will also be obvious, since the minimum distance between successivestops of the cages is the distance between alternate floors, that asignal control system may be employed in which. call push-buttons are.located on adj acent floors and so connected as to effect the samestopping position of the carriage when the button at either floor isoperated. Thus, if a call is registered on floor 8, the carriage 24 Willbe stopped so that the upper cage 25 is at the level of floor 8. If acall is registered at floor 7, the carriage will be stopped in the sameposition and the lower cage will be at the level of f1oor'7.

Inasmuch as any suitable control system may be employed for moving thecarriage 24, a descrip-tion thereof will be omitted.

The control system for the cage adj usting motor 40 comprises a selectorswitch 51 which is similar in construction and operation to the selectorswitches usually employed in elevator signalling and control systems.The selector switch 51 automatically establishes the proper electricalconnections to the motor 40, whereby it is actuated at the proper timesto effect thefnecessary adjustment of the cages and 26. vThe selectorswitch comprises essentially (see Fig. 5) a threaded rod or shaft 52suitably mounted (by means not shown) for rotation in accordance withthe movement of one of the cages, for example, cage 25.- An endless belt120, attached at one pointthereof by a suitable bracket 121 to the cage25 and supported by pulleys 122 mounted vrat the top and bottom of thehatchway 22, is preferably utilized totransmit the movement of t-he cageto the shaft 52. 1

A worm gear 123, keyed to a shaft 124 to which one of the pulleys 122 isalso keyed, engages a worm Wheel 123 keyed to the threaded rod 52 andmovement of the cage 25 is thus transmitted to the rod 52. Any othersuitable gearing may be employed for transmitting the rotation of thepulleys to the rod 52.

A traveling nut 53 having the two arms 53 and 53'projecting outwardlytherefrom on opposite sides of the rod 52 moves in either directionalong the rod 52 by rotation thereof in accordance 'with the movement ofthe cago 25. The two arms 53 and 53 are disposed at an obtuse angle withrespect to each other. The arm 53 has a contact member 21 at its freeend for engaging conducting' contact strips 58 and 59. The arm 53 has acontact member 54 at the end thereof for engaging conducting strips 55and 56.

The strips 55 and 56 are connected electrically to the vmotor 40 and theengagement of the contact member 54 therewith partially completes acircuit for causing the motor to rotate in a direction to move the cagestoward each other, in the carriage 24.

The strips 58 and 59 are connected electrically to the motor 40 and theengagement of the conta ct member 21 therewith partially completes acircuit for causing the motor to rotateV in a direction to move thecages away from each other in the carriage 24.

By reason of the angular relation of the arms 53 and 53, andthe frictionbetween the threaded shaft 52v and the nut 53, the arms will be rocledto one extreme position when the cage starts upwardly and to the otherextreme position when the cage starts downwardly, so that whenthe carascends, a contact member 54 on the arm 53 will-engage the strips and 56successively while a contact member 21 on the arm 53 lwill be disengagedand, when the cage descends, the contact member 21 will engage thecontact strips 58 and 59 successively while the contact member 54 willbe disengaged. Thus, in the travel of the nut 53 alongthe rod 52 in thedirection corresponding to the upward movement of the cage 25,- theYContact member 54 engages the contact strip 55 from the time that theupper cage leaves the second floor until it arrives at floor 6; With thesubsequent movement of the upper cageupwardly, the contact member 54passes over a short insulating segment 55:l and upon.` the contact strip56 which it continues `to'engage until the upper cage reaches ioor 13yand as long as it remains in that position.

Upon the descent of the carriage 24 and the descent of upper cage 25from floor 13, the nut 53 is rocked into the position in-which theContact member 21 engages the insulating strip 57. rllhe cont-act member21 continues to engage the strip 57 until the upper cage arrives atfloor 8. Subsequently, upon the descent of the upper cage therefrom, thecontact member 21 engages the strip 58 which it continues to engageuntil the upper cage 25 arrives at floor 4. Upon thefurther-descent ofthe upper cage 25 the contact member 21 passes overa short insulatingsegment 58 and upon the strip 59 which it continues to engage until theupper cage arrives at floor 2. y i

Upon the reascent of the carriage 24fand that of the upper cage 25 fromthe floor 2, the nut 53 rocks into the position in which contact member54 again engages the strip 55 and the` cycle of operation is againrepeated as before described for a complete cycle of travel from thebottom to the top of the building and down to the bottom again.

Limit switches 60, 61 and 62 are disposed one above the other, and`suitably attached to one of the stiles 27 of the carriage 24.

They are successively operable, in the order l given, by a cam member 63projectingfrom the side of the upper cage 2'5 in its movement toward thelower cage v*fromv a position in which it is a maximum distancetherefrom. For opposite relative movement of the cage 25 and carriage 24they arev operableV in the reserve order.

The limit switch interrupts the con trol circuit of the motor 40 andstops the motor when the cages are a maximum distance ma apart.

The limit switch 61 interrupts thecontrol circuit of the motor 40 whenthe cages are a medium distance me apart.

The limit switch 6 2 interrupts the. control f circuit of the motor 40when the cages are a minimum distance/mz' apart.

A switch 7l. of' any suitable type is provided in one or both of thecages for the purpose of permanently interrupting the control circuit ofthe motor 40. It is desirable, at certain times, such as at night, whenthe passenger traffic is so reduced that only one cage is required, tostop the operation ot the cage adjusting motor 40. A, switch 7l on eachcage provides a simple means for accomplishing this result.

While the cage adjusting motor may be of any suitable type, we haveshown it as a split-field motor having a field winding 64 wound in onedirection, a field winding 65 wound in the opposite direction, and anarmature 40. The energization of the field winding 64 eifects a rotationof the motor 40 in a direction such that the cages are moved toward eachother. rlhe energization of the field winding 65 elfects a rotation ofthe motor 40 in the opposite direction which rcsults in a movement ofthe cages away from each other.

The operation of our control system for effecting the adjustment of therelative positions of the cages 25 and 26 is best understood by assuminga hypothetical case. Let it be assumed that our invention is applied toan automatic elevator system of the latest type in which an operatormerely presses piiishbuttons in the cage to record the stops desired bythe passengers and in which the stopping of the cage is automaticallyeffected both for the calls registered by the operator in the cage andfor calls registered by operation of push buttons by passengers on thevarious floors. Let it be assumed, for the purpose oi this analysis,that there is an operator in each of the cages 25 and 26; that thefunctions of the operator in the upper cage 25 are to operate the pushbuttons in the cago for effecting the automatic stopping of the cage atthose stops desired by theJ passengers en tering the upper cage, closethe door of the cage and hatchway, and operate the control. lever` forinitially starting the carriage 24 from rest; and that the functions ofthe eperator in the lower cage 26 are to operate the push buttons foreffecting the stops desired by passengers entering the lower cage and toclose the lower cage and hatchway doors. Let it be assumed that thecarriage 24 is positioned at the lower terminal of the building 20. Inthis position the. cages 25 and 26 are spaced a maximum distance ma.apart, the upper cage 25 being at the level. of fioor 2 and the lowercage 26 being at the level of finer l. After the cages have been loaded.with passengers and the cage and hatchway doors closed, the operator inthe upper cage 25 moves the control lever therein (not shown) to effectthe operation of the motor formoving` the carriage 24 upwardly in thehatchway. rlhe successive stopping positions of the carriage 24 are suchthat the upper cage'25 always stops at even numbered floors, and thelower cage 26 always stops at odd numbered floors. 'il he first stoppossible, then, of the carriage 24 in its upward travel is such that theupper cage is at the level of floor 4 and the lower cage is at the levelof floor 3. As indicated in Fig. l the distance between floor 3 andfloor 4 is ME, which is less than the distance MA between floor l andfloor 2, and, therefore, in order to permit the alignment of the twocages with their respective floors for this stopping' position, it isnecessary that the two cages be moved toward each other, into a closerspace relation.. We provide means for effecting this movement into alcloser space relation during the movement of the carriage between thestopping positions, so that no time is lost in levelling the cages withtheir respective floors when they arrive thereat.

As the carriage 24 moves upwardly from the lower terminal position thecontact member 54 of the selector switch 51 engages the strip 55 aspreviously describe-d and it closes the circuit through winding of themotor 40, so that the motor rotates in such direction as to effect amovement of the cages 25 and 26 toward each other, in a mannerpreviously described, by means ofthe screw-andgear mechanism. Thiscircuit extends from supply conductor L-1, through conductor 76,switches 7l, conductor 72, armature 40 of the motor 40, winding 65,conductors 78 and 74, contact members a of limit switch 6l, conductor 75, strip 55, contact member 54, arm 53, rod 52, and conductor 76 tosupply conductor L-2. rlhe motor is thus energized and rotates in such adirection to move the cages together. When they reach the distance meapart, the cam member 63 on the upper cage 25 engages the limit switch61 and causes its contact members a and to open. The control circuit,just traced, for the motor 40 is thus interrupted and the motor stops.rlhis adjustment of the two cages is effected with such a speed that theproper spacing therebetween is attained before the upper cage 25 reachesfloor 4.

If it is assumed that a stop call has been registered on either of thecages 25 and 26, or on floors 3 and 4, the carriage 24 will be caused tostop so that the cage 25 is level with floor 4 and cage 26 level withfloor 3.

Let it be assumed that the next stopping position of the carriage 24 inits upward travel is such that the upper' cage 25 is aligned with fioor8 and the lower cage 26 with floor 7 as indicated in Fig. i. The distance between floors 7 and 8 is Ml which is less than the distance MEbetween floors 3 and 4. Therefore, in order to permit the simultaneousalignment of the two cages with their respective stopping' floors, it isnecessary that they be moved still closer to each other.

lli

As thel upperfcage 2'5zleavesiloor 4, the contact'inen'1berf54 runs othe strip 55, passes over? an insulating segment 55 and 'engages'.-

ythez.strip.56.` This establishes circuit through .whirling- 65 et the.motor'40, which extends `from supply oonductorL-1, through.

conductor70, switches` 71, conductor 72, armature 40of'the motor 40,winding 65, con-y ductors' and 77, limit-switch 62, conductor 78,strip"56, contact member54,arm'53,

rodzv52, andV conductor 76 to supply conductor L-+2.` `T he motor 40 isthus energized and movesthe cages 25 and 26 closer together.

lvhenthe'two cages reach'the distance ma' .q apart, the cam member 68 ontheup'per cage 25 engages; and opensy the Vlimit sw1tch-62 causingthe'moter-.40 tov stop.- f

Since-'the yspacinp` ot' the loorshfor successive stops of the carriage24 in its upward travel above thislevellisthesame'as between l floors 7and: 8, noturther change in the .spac.A

ing' between thel two cages is necessary in their; movement vto the topof thebuilding.

Let it be assumedlthat the carr1age24 has ascended .to the` top oftherbuilding and starts y to "descend, 'T he reversal of direction vofmovement of the carriageeiiects ther-ocking o'f the traveling-nut' toitsother position in which the contact member 21, on thev arm 53,'engages=the insulatingstrip57, which it continues fto do until-the upper ca1fe25 de-v scends-.rom iioor 8. I Y v The Acaf ,'es.are maintained intheir same relative positions, therefore, until the uppeiIcage:descendsbelow floor 8.- The, next stoppingjposition o-'l thecagesxbelowthis point requiresthat they be amedium` distance me 4.

apa-rt: l l. y

As cage 25 moves downwardly trom floor 8, thecontact-member 21 of theselector switch l engages the strip 58 thereby establishing a circuitthrough winding 64' et the motor'40, which extends fronr supplyVconducto-r L-el,

through Vconductor '70, .switches 71, conductor 72, armature 40 ofthemotorAO, winding 64, conductors S0 and 81, contact members Z) eIthe-limit switch G1, conductor 82, Vstrip'58, einv tact member-2l, arm53', red- 52 and conductor 76 to supply conductor'L-e2. rEhe motor4() isthus-energized and' rotates in adirection The medium spacing-between thetwo cages maintainedv until the upper cageleavesv fleor4 in adownwarddirection at which ,time a further movementof the two cages awayfrom eachother' is'eifecte'd-iir order 'to permit their simultaneous`alignment Wi th e their respective floors', at'thelowerterminalil,lhere-y Y 52) engages the strip 55.

.has beensuggested, in prier art, we', nvlded a ramp 14A whichextends'upwardly1 fore, asfthe. upper cage 25 leaves floor 4, the

Acontact member -21 of the selector switch 51 i passes over a shortinsulating' segment 58 and engages the ystrip 59. A circuit for energizing the lield winding G4 and thek armature 40 of the motor 40, isvthus established and extends from the supply conductor L--1,'throughconductor 70, switches 71, conductor "72, armature 40', winding'64,:conductors 80 'f and 84, Vlimit switch 60,'conductor 85, strip 59,contact member 21, arm 53', rod 52, and conductor 7G to supply conductorL-.-2. The

`motor 40 is thus actuated and rotates in a.

direction so as to move the two cages farther apart.V The cages continueto move apart until the cani member 63 on the upper cage 25 engages andopens 'the limit switch GO, thus opening the control circuit of themotor40 qandf stopping it, with the cages the maximum 1 distance 'maapart. f

Subsequently, upon the re-ascent of the carriage 24, the reversal ofdirection of retation ot' the rod 52 of the selector switch 5l `causesthe traveling-nut 5B to rock into position so that the contact member 54on the arm )H tion, previously described, is thus repeated.v

1n the operation above assumed, the travel ofthe carriage 24 was fromthe'bottom to the top of 'the building; and down to the bottom again.`vObviously, this would not be the` exactcycle of operation if thecarriage 24 be stopped before it reaches the top and then caused todescend. of the various elements ot the selector switch would'be th-esame, and would effect they T he cycle of opera-'- However, thefunctions" proper operation ot the motor 40 for the par@ Y ticulartravel ot' thecarriage 24.

' llVhile the. control system forthe motor 40, as previouslydescribed,is shown as applied to a building having' floor spacine's asillustrated Vin Fig. 1, it may be, obviously, readily applied tobuildings having other combinations `ret' floor spacing' merely7 by thevariation in the leng'thot the strips similar to the strips 55, 56, 57,58 and 59 to correspond te the par- 'y ticular requirements of thespacing' between adjaeenttloors of the building'.

l modification o'l" Fig. 1 is illustrated in Fig. 8 whereintl'i'efspacinp; between successive floors is altered 'from that ot'Fig'. l.. 1n Fig'. 8, the building 20 has a plurality of super-y posedIoOrs, numbered l to 13, upwardly from the bottom'. of the building'. Indepartment stores and. office buildings, the distance between the .firstand second floors is sometimes two or three times the distance betweenupper floors. It would be impractical and o'f. uneconom'ic constructionina building' of this type, to have the carriage 24 long enough toallozw'the-upper cageto be level with the second tloor at thesametunethat the-lower cageis level with the' first `floor.` Therefore, 'as

have prov4 Q Lul from the lirst `iloor the same distance as a ramp 15extends downwardly from. the .first licor. ln the vterminal sto ppingposition, the floor of the ripper' is at the level. et lthe top of ramp1+i and tue iioor of the lower cage is at the level. et the bottom otramp 15, and thus access to both cages from a common Hoor is obtained.However, the cages ol multi-cage elevator systems utilizing this methodof loading` were lixed with respect to each other' and their' supportingcarriage at a distance apart necessary to el'l'ect thc simultaneousalignment thereof, respectively with successive i'loors. Therefore. theramps had to extend to a distance above or below the lirst floor, whichwas equivalent to one halt the height of a cage plus halt the distancebetween the two cages. ln installations of multi-cage elevators in whichthe elevator cages were of a height equal to the distance betweenadjacent floors, the ramps had to extend to a height equal to one haltthe distance between the adjacent upper floors. Elevator cages etstandard dimensions are used in our inventirini, and since the Atwocages n'ray be moved very closely to each other in our invention, theheight to which the ramps must extend, in the application thereof, aboveand below the terminal floor is substantially one halt the height olfYthe standard elevator cage. lt will thus be clear that instead olrequiring ramps to extend above and below the terminal floor u distanceof at least six it'eet, that is, one half the average distance betweenfloors, which is twelve feet, our invention requires that the rampsextend only to a distance ci about 'tour -feet above and below theterminal Vdoor. the tour feet being approximately one hall: the heightol' a standard elevator cage. 'l`here'tore, our invention elects areduction oi at least two feet in the distance which it is required thatthe ramps extend above and below a common terminal floor.

The advantages ot such a reduction in a height requirements ot the rampsis obvious both trom a psychological and an economical standpoint.Passengers have less objection and annoyance to walking up er down aramp which extends only a distance oli about .tour feet above or below aconnnon lloor, than they have it' they are required to wall; up or downa ramp which extends a distance of about six feet above or below afloor. ris to the economical standpoint, a ramp extending to a height ettourfeet above or below a 'floor permits the same angle or inclinationas may be used for a ramp extending to a height of six 'feet and withless licor space occupied bythe ramp.

lt should, therefore, be` obvious that our invention is especiallyapplicable to buildings having a lower' iioor terminal loading method inwhich ramps to the upper and lower cages are used.

The cycle or movement of the cages with respect to each other in thebuilding illustrated in Fig'. 8 obviously requires amodifi-` cation ofthe strips of the selector switch 51 to eliect the results desired. Intraveling from their terminal position illustrated in solid lines to thenext stopping position in their travel upward, illustrated in dottedlines, it is necessary for the cages to be moved to their maximumdistance apart. Since the spacing between adjacent floors above floor 6is less than the spacing below that floor, it is necessary that thecages be moved'closer to each other, after the upper cage travelsupwardly from floor 5. This medium spacing between the cages ismaintained in the subsequent upward travel thereof to the top of thebuilding and down again until the upper cage leaves the floor 7. It isnecessary that the cages be spaced a maximum distance apart for the nextstopping position after the .upper cage leaves floor 7, in the downwarddirection. Furthermore, after the upper cage leaves the floor 3 in adownward direction it is necessary that the two cages be moved to aposition in which they are a minimum distance apart in order to be` in aposition'to be properly aligned with the ramps 14 and 15.

lt has not been thought necessary to illustrate a control diagram foreffecting the cycle of relative movement between the two cages,

just previously described, since the control illustrated in Fig. 5 maybe modified without invention to suit the particular requirements ofthis cycle by properly constructing the length of the contact strips ofthe selector switch 51 and properly connecting them to the windings 6land 65 of the motor.

A modification of the mechanism for altering the relative position ofthe two cages 25 and 26 is illustrated in Fig. 6. The structure of thecarriage2l and the cages 25 andV 26 is identical with that illustratedin Fig. 2. The modilication consists in the counter-balancing of cage 25by cage 26 byconnecting the sides oli' the lower cage 26 at the topthereof to the top central portion ofthe upper' cage 25 by cables orchains 100 which are supported by sprocket-wheels 101 and 102 suitablymounted in bearing members attached to the channel members 28. Keyed t0the same shaft as sprocket-wheels 101 are gear' wheels 103 which areeach engaged by a worm gear 104 keyed to the shaft 105 of the motor l0which is suitably supported from the upper' channels 28.

Suitable guide rails 150 for engaging guide shoes 152 on the cages7 aredisposed between the anges of Stiles 27 and are attached to the carriageat top and bottom by bracket members 151.

Rotation of the motor 40 in one direction causes the upper cage 25 to beraised and the lower cage 26 to be lowered simultaneously with respectto the carriage 24. Rotationl of the motor 40 in the oppositedirectioncauses the upper cage 25 to be lowered and the lower cage 26 tobe raised simultaneously with respect to the carriage 24. s

The fundamental principle of counterbalancing one cage by another isutilized in both the structures illustrated in Figs. 2 and 6,respectively.v j

A further modificationof the structure of the moving mechanism foradjusting the spacing between the two cages 25 and 26 is illustrated inFig. 7. In this figure, the upper cage 25 is Xed withrespect to thecarriage 24, and only the cage 26 is movable with respect to the Lippercage 25 and ythe carriage 24. An additional horizontally disposed framefor connecting the mid-points of stiles 27 is not provided in thismodifica- Y tion since the bottom of cage 25 performs this function.

A. screw and gear mechanism similar to that already described, isprovided for supporting and moving the lower cage 26 with respect to thecarriage 24. It comprises the threaded rods or pipes 41', verticallydisposed one on each side of cage 26 and rotatably supported in thecarriage 24 at their bottom ends by double thrust bearings 42 which areattached tothe lower channels 29, and at their top ends by the bearings42l attached to the stiles 27 at the level of the bottomv of the topcage 25.

The rods 41 are threaded rat vthe lower portion thereof for a distanceslightly greater than the distance which the cage 26 moves relatively tothe carriage 24.

Split-nut bearing members 39, and sliding bearingmembers 39 are providedforcage 26. They are attached thereto in a manner similar to thatalready described and `they also serve corresponding functions. Bearings89 support the cage 26 and move it upwardly or downwardly with respectto carriage 24 when the rods 41 are rotated simultaneously at the samespeed in proper directions. Bearings 39 engage the smooth surface of therods 41 and serve to additionally support and guide the movement of thecage 26.

The rods 41 are rotated simultaneously at the same speed in the properdirections'by a drive mechanism identical with that already describedfor that of Fig. 2 so that it will not again be described here.

Thus, in this modification, it will be seen that rotation of motor 40 inone direction causesV the cage 26 to be raised toward cage 25 and thatrotation thereof in 'an opposite direction causes the cage 26 to belowered away from cage 25. f

The structure illustrated in Fig. 7 is provided for some installationswhere the carriage 24 moves at a slow speed or where theA is greaterthan the distance between alternate floors.V Assuming the same speed ofmovement of the cages in each case a longer time is required for thesame variationv in the spacingbetween the two cages with a mechanismwhich moves only one cage than with a mechanism such as previouslydescribed which I moves both cages simultaneously. Therefore, in a highspeed movement of the carriage 24, withstopping positions at alternatelfloors, an adjustment of but one .cage would not insure a completeadjustment of the spacing between the twocages during the travel of thecarriage 24 between successive stops. Therefore, for most installations,the counter-balancing method of supporting and moving the two cages 25and 26, previously described, `is preferredr over this latterVconstruction. j

Therefore, it will be seen that we have disclosed a novel means foradjusting the spacing between the cages of a multi-cage elevatoremployed iii/buildings having different spacing between adjacentfloorsat different levels, and have discloseda control system ly movablein a common hatchway, means,

including amcommon motive means, for moving all `of said cages in thehatchway, and means including a second motive means operable separatelyfrom said common motive means, for changing the relative positions ofsaid cages.

2. In an elevator, a plurality of interconnected adjustably spaced cagessimultaneously movable in,A a'common hatchway, means, including motivemeans, for moving all of said cages in the hatchway, and means,including a second motivemeans operable separately from said motivemeans, for changing the relativek positions-of said cages duringmovement thereof in the hatchway.

3. In an elevator, a carriage movable in a hatchway, a plurality ofcages, means for movably supporting said cages in said' carriagev formovement relative thereto and to each other, and a common -motive meansfor moving all of saidcages relative to said carriage land to eachother.

4. In lan elevator, a carriage movable ina hatchway, a plurality' ofcages, means for movably supporting said cages in said carian riage formovement relative thereto and to each other, and motive means on saidcarriage for moving said cages relative to said carriage and to eachother.

`5. In an elevator, a carriage movable in a hatchway, a plurality ofcages, means movably supporting said cages in said carriage for movementrelative thereto and to each other, and common motive means on saidcarriage for moving all of said cages relative to said carriage and toeach other.

6. In an elevator, a carriage movable in a hatchway, a plurality ofcages, and means for movably supporting and counterbalancing said cagesin said carriage for movement relative to said carriage and to eachother.

7. In Van elevator, a carriage mo-vable in a hatch'way, a plurality ofcages, and means for movably supporting and counterbalancing said cagesin said carriage for simultaneous movement relative to said carriage andto each other.

8. In an elevator, a carriage movable in a hatchway, a plurality ofcages, and means for movably supporting said cages in said carriage andcounterbalancing one cage by another.

9. In an elevator, a carriage comprising a vertically disposedquadrangular frame movable in a hatchway, a plurality of cages, meansmovably supporting said cages in said quadrangular frame one above theother for movement relative thereto and to each other, the upper portionof a cage being offset from the lower portion and having ya smallerhorizontal cross-sectional area than the horizontal cross-sectional areaof the lower portion, and a horizontally disposed quadrangular frame,for connecting opposite members of said vertically disposed quadrangularframe and imparting rigidity thereto, said horizontal frame enclosing anopen area larger than the horizontal cross sectional area of the saidupper portion of a cage but smaller than the horizontal cross-sectionalarea of the lower portion of the cages and said upper portion of a cagebeing movable through said horizontal frame to effect its close approachto the bottom of an immediately adjacent upper cage.

10. In an elevator, a carriage movable in a hatchway, a plurality ofcages, and means for movably supporting said cages in said carriageV andcounterbalancing one cage by another comprising a threaded shaftrotatably mounted in said carriage, motive means on said carriage forrotating said threaded shaft, and a nut on each of said cagescooperating with said threaded shaft whereby the cages are movedrelatively to said carria-ge upon rotation of the threadedV shaft.

11. In an elevator, a carriage movable in a hatchway, a plurality ofcages, and means for movably supporting said cages in said carriage andcounterbalancing one cage by another comprising a supporting pulley r0-tatably Ymounted in said carriage, a flexible member engaging saidpulley for supporting said cages by connecting one cage to another,

and motive means on said carriage for rotating said pulley tosimultaneously move said cages relatively to said carriage and to eachother.

12. In an elevator, a carriage movable in a hatchway, a plurality ofcages, means movably supporting said cages in said carriage for movementrelative thereto and to each other, and m-eans for moving said cagesrelative to said carriage and to each other during movement of saidcarriage in the hatchway.

13. In an elevator, a plurality of interconnected adjustably spacedcages simultaneously movable in a common hatchway, means, includingmotive means, for adjusting the cages and changing their relativepositions during movement of the cages inthe hatchway, and control meansfor automatically causing said motive means to adjust the cages into anyone of a plurality of predetermined relative positions, said controlmeans comprising means movable in accordance with the movement of one ofthe cages in the hatchway.

14. In an elevator, a carriage movable in a hatchway, a plurality ofcages movably supported in said carriage for relative movement withrespect thereto and to each other, means including motive means, forchanging the relative positions of said cages in said carriage, andcooperating means on said carriage and on one of the cages operable atpredetermined relative positions of the cages for controlling theoperation of said motive means. I y

15. In an elevator system for a building comprising a plurality ofsuperposed landings having different spacngs between adjacent landingsat different levels and a hatchway extending past all of said landings,l"

a plurality of interconnected cages simultaneously movable in thehatchway and means for changing the relative positions of the cagesduring movement thereof in the hatchway in accordance with the spacingbetween the landings at which they next stop, before their arrivalthereat, whereby upon stopping they are simultaneously in alinement withadjacent landings.

16. In an elevator system vfor a building comprising a plurali-ty ofsuperposed landings having different spacings between adjacent landingsat different levels and a hatchway extending past all of said landings,a plurality of interconnected cagesV simultaneously movable in thehatchwa'y, and means including means movable in accordance with themovement of one of the cages in the hatchway, for automatically changingthe relative positions of the cages .a predetermined CIU .rae

amount during movement thereof in the hatchway in accordance with thespacing between the landings at which they next stop before the arrivalthereat, whereby upon stopping they are simultaneously in alinement withadjacent landings.

l?. In an elevator system, a building having a plurality of groups oflandings therein, the distance between adjacent landings of said groupsbeing different and decreasing in steps from a maximum at the bottom toa minimum at the top` of the building, a hatchway extending past all ofsaid landings, a plurality of interconnected cages, simultaneouslymovable in said rhatchway and adjustable relative to each other so thatupon stopping they may be in alin-ement with adjacent landings in any ofthe said groups, and means for reducing the distancebetween cages to aminimum in successive steps during movement thereof from the bottom tothe top of the building and for increasing the distance between thecages to a maximum in successive steps during movement thereof fromthe'top to the bottom of the building. 18. In a. building having aplurality of superposed landings, a hatchway extending past all of saidlandings and a ramp extending up from and a ramp extending down from oneof said landings, a pair of interconnected cages simultaneously movablein the hatchway and adjustable with respect to each other, whereby theymay be simultaneously alined with said ramps or any two adjacentlandings, and means including means movable in accordance with themovement of one of the cages in the hatchway, for adjusting thepositions of the cages relative to each other a predetermined amount inaccordance with the requirements of each stopping position, theadjustment being effected. automatically by said movable means duringmovement of the cages through the hatchway prior to reaching eachstopping position.

19. In an elevator, a carriage movable in a hatchway, a plurality ofadjustably spaced cages supported by said carriage, and means includinga motive means disposed on said carriage, for simultaneously adjustingall the cages and thereby changing their relative positions.

20. In an elevator, a carriage movable in a hatchway, a plurality ofadjustably spaced cages supported by said carriage, and means includinga motive means disposed on said carriage, for simultaneously adjustingall the cages and thereby changing their relative positions duringmovement of the carriage in the hatchway.

21. In an elevator, a plurality of interconnected adjustably spacedcages simultaneously movable in a co-mmon hatchwa-y, means includingmotive means for adjusting the cages and changing their relativepositions, and control means for said motive means including meansmovable in accordace with the movement of one of the cages in thehatchway for automatically causing said motive means to adj ust thecages into any one of a plurality of predetermined relative positionsand stop them thereat during movement of the cages in the hatchway.

22. In an elevator, a plurality of interconnected adjustably spacedcages simultaneously movable in a common hatchway, motive means formoving all of said cages simultaneously in said hatchway, meansincluding a second motive means operable independently o-f said firstmotive means to simultaneously adjust all of said cages and change theirpositions relative to each other, and control means for said motivemeans including means movable in accordance with the movement of one ofthe cages in the hatchwayfor automatically causing said second motivemeans to adjust the cages into any one of a plurality of predeterminedrelative positions and stop them thereat during the movement of thecages in the hatchway.

28. In a carriage for supporting a plurality of superposed elevator'cages, a vertically disposed quadrangular frame, aA horizontallydisposed quadrangular frame disposed to connect portions of saidvertically disposed frame intermediate the upper and lower ends thereofand impart rigidity to the vertically disposed fraine, said horizontallydisposed frame being adapted to permit a portion of one of said cages tomove therethrough and closely approach another of said cages.

24. In an elevator system for a building having a plurality of variablyspaced superposed landings and a hatchway extending past all of saidlandings, a plurality of adjustably spaced interconnected cagessimultaneously movable in the hatchway, motive means for adjusting saidcages, and control means for said motive means including means 'movablein accordance with the movement of one of the cages for automaticallycausing said motive means to adjust the cages into any one of aplurality of predetermined relative positions in accordance with therequirements of a stopping position before the arrival of the cagesthereat and during the movement of the cages in the hatchway.

In testimony whereof, we have hereunto subscribed our names this 28thday of October, 1980.

` HENRY D. JAMES.

DOUGLAS Gr. BOOZER.

